Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution

1775, the thirteen American colonies east of the Appalachians population of two million whites and half a million blacks (1700- fewer than 300,000 people of whom 20,000 were black) -diverse ethnic groups, including Germans and the Scots-Irish -Was this a melting pot? Population increase due to natural increase, European migration and the African slave trade

The colonists were doubling their numbers every twenty-five years. 1775: The average age was about sixteen. 1700: There were twenty English subjects for each American colonist. 1775: The English advantage had fallen to three to one. The balance of power was shifting.

The most populous colonies in 1775 were Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Maryland—in that order. Only four cities were of any size: Philadelphia with 34,000, trailed by New York, Boston, and Charleston. About 90% of colonists lived in rural areas.

Demographics -In 1790: 49% English; 19% African; 7% Scottish; 7% German; 5% Scotts-Irish; 3% Irish; 3% Dutch; 9% other European (Why 1790?) “The population, although basically English in stock and language, was picturesquely mottled with numerous foreign groups.” (Pageant)

These immigrants laid the foundations for a new multicultural American national identity as different groups intermingled. Likewise, the African American community was quite variegated in its cultural origins. In New England “praying towns” and in Great Lakes villages, different groups of displaced Native Americans intermingled.

Figure 5.1 Ethnic and Racial Composition of the American People, 1790 Based on surnames. Adapted from the American Council of Learned Societies, “Report of Committee on Linguistic and National Stocks in the Population of the United States,” 1932. Percentages total more than 100 percent due to rounding.) Figure 5.1 p80

Map 5.1 Immigrant Groups in 1775 America was already a nation of diverse nationalities in the colonial period. This map shows the great variety of immigrant groups, especially in Pennsylvania and New York. It also illustrates the tendency of later arrivals, particularly the Scots-Irish, to push into the backcountry. Map 5.1 p79

Map: Immigration and British Colonial Expansion, to 1755 Black majorities emerged in much of the Chesapeake tidewater and the Carolina-Georgia low country. Immigrants from Germany, Ireland, and Scotland predominated among the settlers in the piedmont. A significant Jewish population emerged in the seaports. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Map: European Settlements and Indians, 1754 By 1754, Europeans had expanded the limits of the English colonies to the eastern slopes of the Appalachian Mountains. Few independent Indian nations still existed in the East, but beyond the mountains they controlled the countryside. Only a few widely scattered English and French forts maintained the Europeans' presence there. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Compared with Europe, America was a land of equality and opportunity Relative to the seventeenth-century colonies, there was a rising economic hierarchy and increasing social complexity Why? What accounts for this?

Ninety percent of Americans remained involved in agriculture A growing class of wealthy planters and merchants appeared at the top of the social pyramid Some merchants in New England and the middle colonies became rich off of wars A visible lower class was forming

Map 5.2 The Colonial Economy By the eighteenth century, the various colonial regions had distinct economic identities. The northern colonies grew grain and raised cattle, harvested timber and fish, and built ships. The Chesapeake colonies and North Carolina were still heavily dependent on tobacco, whereas the southernmost colonies grew mostly rice and indigo. Cotton, so important to the southern economy in the nineteenth century, had not yet emerged as a major crop. Map 5.2 p86

In New England, with open land less available, descendants faced limited prospects: Farms got smaller. Younger children were hired out as wage laborers. Boston’s homeless poor increased. In the South, large plantations continued their disproportionate ownership of slaves: The largest slaveowners increased their wealth. Poor whites increasingly became tenant farmers.

Religion Two “established” (tax-supported) churches- Anglican (Church of England) and Congregational Anglican (Church of England)- NY, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA Congregational- Mass., CT, NH

Table 5.1 p89

Table 5.2 p89

Religion By the early eighteenth century, the established New England Congregational Church was losing religious fervor. The Great Awakening, sparked by fiery preachers such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, spread a new style of emotional worship that revived religious zeal.

Great Awakening Periods of religious revival (renewed enthusiasm) Ideas (Pietism- stressed the individual’s personal relationship with God) came from Europe and spread in the colonies Undermined legally established churches Led to formation of new churches Great Awakening crossed colonial borders from Georgia to Massachusetts Print helped spread the religious messages Social and religious tensions Increasing diversity of religions and democratization

1730s- Jonathan Edwards encouraged a religious revival in New England Sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”: Warned that relying on “good works” was a folly Said Christians must depend solely on God’s grace Provided lurid detail on hell George Whitefield- English minister Attracted huge crowds from Georgia to Massachusetts New Lights were those who followed his message that they must seek salvation

George Whitefield Preaching Americans of both genders and all races and regions were spellbound by Whitefield’s emotive oratory. 5.6 p91

Orthodox clergymen (old lights) were skeptical of the emotionalism and theatrical antics used by revivalists. New lights defended the Awakening for revitalizing American religion. Congregationalists and Presbyterians split over this issue, and many joined the Baptists or Methodists.

The Awakening left many lasting effects: The emphasis on direct, emotive spirituality seriously undermined the old clergy. Many schisms increased the number and competitiveness of American churches. It encouraged new waves of missionary work. It led to the founding of colleges. It was the first spontaneous mass movement. It contributed to a growing sense of Americanism.

The College of New Jersey at Princeton, 1764 Later known as Princeton University, it was chartered in 1746 by the Presbyterian Synod, though open to students of all religious persuasions. The fourth college to be founded in British North America, it met in Elizabeth and Newark, New Jersey, until a gift of ten acres of land precipitated a move to Princeton in 1756. All classes were held in the large building, Nassau Hall. Here the Continental Congress met for three months during the summer of 1783, making Princeton for a short time the capital of the nation. This copper engraving, based on a drawing by one of Princeton’s earliest students, was part of a series of college views that reflected colonial Americans’ growing pride in institutions of higher learning. p92

Culture Colonial education and culture were generally undistinguished, although science and journalism displayed some vigor Enlightenment ideas, though, took hold in America Emphasized the power of human reason to understand and shape the world Benjamin Franklin Added a secular dimension to colonial cultural life John Locke- natural rights

Zenger trial (1734–1735): John Peter Zenger assailed the corrupt royal governor. The Zenger decision helped establish the doctrine that true statements about public officials could not be prosecuted as libel: It was a banner achievement for freedom of the press and for the health of democracy. It pointed the way for the open discussion required by the diverse society.

Politics Politics was everywhere an important activity, as representative colonial assemblies battled on equal terms with politically appointed governors from England Colonial legislatures gradually took control of taxation An aristocracy still assumed leadership positions, but the people held a great deal of power. They did not accept the imposition of arbitrary power.

There were three kinds of colonial governors: By 1775, eight colonies had royal governors appointed by the king. Three had governors selected by proprietors (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware) Connecticut and Rhode Island elected their own governors under self-governing charters.

Each colony had a two-house legislature: Upper house was appointed by the crown in 8 royal colonies and by the proprietor in 3 proprietary colonies. It was chosen by voters in 2 self-governing colonies. Lower house was the popular branch, elected by the people (property-owners). In some colonies the backcountry areas were seriously underrepresented and resented the colonial elite.

Self-taxation through representation was a privilege Americans cherished above most others. London generally left colonial governors to the mercies of the legislatures. Colonial assemblies asserted authority over governors by withholding their salary.

Administration at the local level varied: County governments remained the rule in the South. Town meetings predominated in New England. The middle colonies used a mixture of the two forms. Town meetings, with open discussion and open voting, were a cradle of self-government.

The ballot was by no means a birthright: Upper classes, fearful of democratic excesses, were unwilling to grant the ballot to everyone. 1775: Still religious and property qualifications. About half of adult white males disfranchised. But right to vote was not impossible to attain because it was easy to acquire land. Yet, eligible voters often did not exercise this privilege; instead they deferred to the elite.

By 1775 America was not a true democracy socially, economically, or politically. But colonies were far more democratic than Europe. Democratic seeds were planted, later bringing forth a lush harvest.

Map 5. 3 Colonial Trade Patterns, ca Map 5.3 Colonial Trade Patterns, ca. 1770 Future president John Adams noted about this time that “the commerce of the West Indies is a part of the American system of commerce. They can neither do without us, nor we without them. The Creator has placed us upon the globe in such a situation that we have occasion for each other.” Map 5.3 p87

Triangular trade was very profitable. Manufacturing was of secondary importance. Household manufacturing (spinning and weaving by women) added impressive output. Skilled craftspeople few and highly prized. Lumbering was the most important manufacturing activity. Colonial naval stores were also highly valued.

Molasses Act Despite various Navigation Acts (Woolen Act, Hat Act, Iron Act, etc.) the American colonies were growing economically strong American merchants continued to trade with the French Caribbean despite the rivalry between England and France 1733 Molasses Act imposed a high tariff on French molasses. Colonists bribed officials and violated the act Relate to Navigation Acts and Mercantilism Colonial protest and defiance

Common Characteristics by the mid-18th century P. 103

Map: Chesapeake Expansion, 1607-1700 The Chesapeake colonies expanded slowly before mid-century. By 1700 Anglo-Indian wars, a rising English population, and an influx of enslaved Africans permitted settlers to spread throughout the tidewater. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Map: The European Empires in Eighteenth-Century America This map shows the colonization of the Americas and the Philippines by three rival powers. It is clear from the map why British colonists felt vulnerable to attack by England's archenemies, France and Spain, until English victory in the Great War for Empire in 1763. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Some additional themes Influx of immigrants from non-English countries

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